Heat pipe structure having strip-shaped capillary tissue at both side ends thereof

ABSTRACT

A heat pipe structure includes a pipe shell ( 1 ) and a capillary tissue ( 2 ) disposed in the pipe shell ( 1 ). A pipe body ( 10 ) has a hollow vapor channel ( 100 ) along a longitudinal direction thereof and sealing a working fluid. The capillary tissue ( 2 ) has two strip-shaped primary capillary portions ( 20, 21 ) passing through the vapor channel ( 100 ) and a connecting capillary portion ( 22 ) connecting the two primary capillary portions ( 20, 21 ). The two primary capillary portions ( 20, 21 ) extend along a longitudinal direction of the pipe shell ( 1 ) and are immediately adjacent to respective side walls ( 103 ) of the pipe body ( 10 ) along the longitudinal direction thereof. The connecting capillary portion ( 22 ) is disposed against the inside of one end ( 11 ) of the pipe shell ( 1 ) to connect the two primary capillary portions ( 20, 21 ) for mutual transmission of the working fluid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a capillary tissue and, in particular, to a heat pipe structure having a strip-shaped capillary tissue at both side ends.

2. Description of Related Art

The traditional capillary tissues in a heat pipe, such as those made from fiber, woven metal wires or twisted metal nets, present curved shapes without specific directions due to the natures of elastic restoring forces after they are woven or twisted. Consequently, it is difficult to place them into the heat pipe or it cannot be ensured that they have been properly positioned and shaped in the heat pipe.

In particular, in the case of a strip-shaped capillary tissue (e.g., a coaxially braided capillary tissue), the long strip shape makes it difficult to remain straight in the heat pipe; also, the space reserved for the vapor channel is necessary to be considered. As a result, the capillary tissue is usually disposed on the edge of one side of the heat pipe, resulting in a reduced evaporation surface and thus a lower heat transfer property. If a strip-shaped capillary tissue is disposed on each of both sides of the heat pipe, the heat transfer cannot take place due to long separation between the two strip-shaped capillary tissues, affecting the flow-back efficiency of the liquid working fluid.

In view of this, the inventor pays special attention to research with the application of related theory and tries to overcome the above disadvantages regarding the above related art. Finally, the inventor proposes the invention which is a reasonable design and overcomes the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is to provide a heat pipe structure having a strip-shaped capillary tissue at both side ends thereof. By means of special shapes, the heat pipe of the present invention not only enables the capillary tissue to be positioned and shaped after it is placed into the heat pipe, but also enables two-way transmission of the liquid working fluid without affecting the space reserved for the vapor channel.

The present invention provides a heat pipe structure comprising a pipe shell and a capillary tissue disposed in the pipe shell. The pipe shell comprise a pipe body and two end portions sealing two ends of the pipe shell. The pipe body has a hollow vapor channel along a longitudinal direction of the pipe body and sealing a working fluid. The capillary tissue has two strip-shaped primary capillary portions passing through the vapor channel and a connecting capillary portion connecting the two primary capillary portions to continuously form a long strip portion. The two primary capillary portions extend along a longitudinal direction of the pipe shell and are immediately adjacent to respective side walls of the pipe body along the longitudinal direction thereof; the connecting capillary portion is disposed against the inside of one end of the pipe shell to connect the two primary capillary portions for mutual transmission of the working fluid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded schematic view of the heat pipe structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective assembled schematic view of the heat pipe structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the heat pipe structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a planar cross-sectional view of the interior of the heat pipe structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a planar cross-sectional view of the interior of the heat pipe structure according to the second embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 6 is a planar cross-sectional view of the interior of the heat pipe structure according to the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a planar cross-sectional view of the interior of the heat pipe structure according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a planar cross-sectional view of the interior of the heat pipe structure according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a planar cross-sectional view of the interior of the heat pipe structure according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a planar cross-sectional view of the interior of the heat pipe structure according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a planar cross-sectional view of the interior of the heat pipe structure according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To let the examiners further understand the features and technical details of the present invention, the detailed description and accompanying figures are provided below for reference. However, the accompanying figures are only for reference and explanation, but not to limit the scope of the present invention.

Please refer to FIGS. 1-3, which are a perspective exploded schematic view, a perspective assembled schematic view, and a cross-sectional view of the heat pipe structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention, respectively. The present invention provides a heat pipe structure comprising a pipe shell 1 and a capillary tissue 2 disposed in the pipe shell 1.

The pipe shell 1 is basically a long tube body having a flat cross-section and seals a working fluid (not shown). In the current embodiment, the flat cross-section is formed by a pressing process, which is applicable to the ultrathin heat pipe having an outer thickness below 0.6 mm, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, before the pipe shell 1 is sealed, it comprises a pipe body 10 and an end portion 11 sealing one end of the pipe body 10. The pipe body 10 has a hollow vapor channel 100 along a longitudinal direction of the pipe shell 1, as shown in FIG. 3, and the vapor channel 100 communicates with the other end of the pipe body 10 to have an opening through which the capillary tissue 2 is placed into the vapor channel 100. After the capillary tissue 2 is placed into the pipe shell 1 and the degassing is completed, the other end of the pipe body 10 is sealed to form another end portion 11′ on which a seal structure 12 is formed.

The capillary tissue 2 is woven from sintered powder, fiber, or metal wires, or the capillary tissue 2 is a continuous long strip formed by twisting a metal net; the capillary tissue 2 is disposed in the pipe shell 1. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pipe body 10 of the pipe shell 1 further comprises a bottom wall 101, a top wall 102, and two side walls 103 which are two portions disposed between the bottom wall 101 and the top wall 102. That is, the vapor channel 100 is surrounded and formed by the bottom wall 101, the top wall 102, and the two side walls 103. The capillary tissue 2 has two strip-shaped primary capillary portions 20, 21 passing through the vapor channel 100 and a connecting capillary portion 22 connecting the two primary capillary portions 20, 21 to continuously form a long strip portion. The two primary capillary portions 20, 21 extend along a longitudinal direction of the pipe shell 1 and are immediately adjacent to respective side walls 103 of the pipe body 10. The connecting capillary portion 22 is disposed against the inside of an end portion 11 of the pipe shell 1 to connect the two primary capillary portions 20, 21 for mutual transmission of the working fluid. In the first embodiment, the connecting capillary portion 22 is between the two primary capillary portions 20, 21 and bent into a straight shape and disposed in the pipe shell 1 along a transverse direction thereof. Therefore, by means of the above-mentioned structure, the heat pipe structure having a strip-shaped capillary tissue at both side ends thereof can be obtained.

Based on the above, please further refer to FIG. 4. Because the capillary tissue 2 is formed by bending and disposing along the inside of the pipe shell 1 (i.e., the two side walls 103 and the end portion 11), it is easier to be positioned in the pipe shell 1. Also, the mutual transmission of the liquid working fluid between the two primary capillary portions 20, 21 is enabled via the connection of the connecting capillary portion 22. The space between the two primary capillary portions 20, 21 for the vapor channel 100 is maintained as well, which avoids the blockage of gaseous working fluid and a reduced heat transfer.

As shown in FIG. 5, which is the second embodiment of the present invention, the connecting capillary portion 22 may have an arc shape; the two primary capillary portions 20, 21 extend toward the other end portion 11′ of the pipe shell 1 and further extend toward each other to form respective secondary capillary portions 200, 210, each of which having an arc shape.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8, which are the third, fourth, and fifth embodiments of the present invention, respectively, the two secondary capillary portions 200, 210 of the two primary capillary portions 20, 21 extend toward each other and further extend along the longitudinal direction of the pipe shell 1 to form respective rear segments 201, 211. As shown in FIG. 6, the two rear segments 201, 211 may be spaced to each other; as shown in FIG. 7, they may be disposed in contact with each other and in parallel. The two rear segments 201, 211 may be disposed with identical or different lengths according to the inner space of the pipe shell 1. As shown in FIG. 8, the two rear segments 201, 211 have the identical lengths and extend from the respective secondary capillary portions 200, 210 toward the longitudinal direction of the pipe shell 1 and are disposed first in contact with each other and then spaced.

In addition, FIG. 9 shows the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Only one of the two primary capillary portions 20, 21 (for example, the primary capillary portion 20 in FIG. 9) can extend to form the secondary capillary portion 200 having an arc shape from which the rear segment 201 extends to contact with the other primary capillary portion 21.

Also, FIGS. 10 and 11 are the seventh and eighth embodiments of the present invention, respectively. The rear segment 201 of the primary capillary portion 20 can extend directly toward the longitudinal direction of the pipe shell 1 and is spaced from the other primary capillary portion 21, instead contacts with the other primary capillary portion 21, as shown in FIG. 10. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, the other primary capillary portion 21 can extend toward the other end portion 11′ and then extend to form the secondary capillary portion 210 to contact with the rear segment 201.

Therefore, by means of the heat pipe structure having a strip-shaped capillary tissue at both side ends of the present invention, the capillary tissue 2 is easier to be positioned in the pipe shell 1 because the capillary tissue 2 is formed by bending and disposing along the inside of the pipe shell 1 (i.e., the two side walls 103 and the end portion 11). Moreover, the mutual transmission of the liquid working fluid between the two primary capillary portions 20, 21 is enabled via the connection of the connecting capillary portion 22. The space between the two primary capillary portions 20, 21 for the vapor channel 100 is maintained as well, which avoids the blockage of gaseous working fluid and a reduced heat transfer.

In summary, the present invention can achieve the expected objective and overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. also it is indeed novel, useful, and non-obvious to be patentable. Please examine the application carefully and grant it as a formal patent for protecting the rights of the inventor.

The embodiments described above are only preferred ones of the present invention and not to limit the claimed scope of the present invention. Therefore, all the equivalent modifications and variations applying the spirit of the present invention should be embraced by the claimed scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A heat pipe structure, comprising: a pipe shell (1) comprising a pipe body (10) and two end portions (11, 11′) sealing two ends of the pipe shell (1), wherein the pipe body (10) has a hollow vapor channel (100) along a longitudinal direction thereof and sealing a working fluid; and a capillary tissue (2) disposed in the pipe shell (1) and having two strip-shaped primary capillary portions (20, 21) passing through the vapor channel (100) and a connecting capillary portion (22) connecting the two primary capillary portions (20, 21) to continuously form a long strip portion, wherein the two primary capillary portions (20, 21) extend along a longitudinal direction of the pipe shell (1) and are immediately adjacent to respective side walls (103) of the pipe body (10) along a longitudinal direction thereof, wherein the connecting capillary portion (22) is disposed against the inside of an end portion (11) of the pipe shell (1) to connect the two primary capillary portions (20, 21) for mutual transmission of the working fluid.
 2. The heat pipe structure according to claim 1, wherein the pipe shell (1) has a flat cross-section.
 3. The heat pipe structure according to claim 1, wherein the pipe shell (1) has an outer thickness below 0.6 mm.
 4. The heat pipe structure according to claim 1, wherein the capillary tissue (2) is woven from sintered powder, fiber, or metal wires, or is a continuous long strip formed by twisting a metal net.
 5. The heat pipe structure according to claim 1, wherein the connecting capillary portion (22) of the capillary tissue (2) is between the two primary capillary portions (20, 21) and bent into a straight shape or an arc shape and disposed in the pipe shell (1) along a transverse direction thereof.
 6. The heat pipe structure according to claim 1, wherein the two primary capillary portions (20, 21) of the capillary tissue (2) extend toward the other end portion (11′) and further extend toward each other to form respective secondary capillary portions (200, 210).
 7. The heat pipe structure according to claim 6, wherein each of the secondary capillary portions (200, 210) has an arc shape.
 8. The heat pipe structure according to claim 6, wherein the secondary capillary portions (200, 210) extend toward each other and further extend along the longitudinal direction of the pipe shell (1) to form respective rear segments (201, 211).
 9. The heat pipe structure according to claim 8, wherein the rear segments (201, 211) are spaced to each other or disposed in contact with each other and in parallel.
 10. The heat pipe structure according to claim 9, wherein the rear segments (201, 211) has identical or different lengths.
 11. The heat pipe structure according to claim 8, wherein the rear segments (201, 211) extend from the respective secondary capillary portions (200, 210) toward the longitudinal direction of the pipe shell (1) and are disposed first in contact with each other and then spaced.
 12. The heat pipe structure according to claim 1, wherein one of the two primary capillary portions (20, 21) of the capillary tissue (2) extends toward the other end portion (11′) of the pipe shell (1), wherein the other end portion (11′) extends to form a secondary capillary portion (200), from which a rear segment (201) extends.
 13. The heat pipe structure according to claim 12, wherein the rear segment (201) contacts with the other one of the two primary capillary portions (20, 21).
 14. The heat pipe structure according to claim 12, wherein the rear segment (201) extends along the longitudinal direction of the pipe shell (1) and is spaced from the other one of the two primary capillary portions (20, 21).
 15. The heat pipe structure according to claim 14, wherein the other one of the two primary capillary portions (20, 21) extends toward the other end portion (11′) and further extends to form another secondary capillary portion (210) to contact with the rear segment (201). 